Local

Seminole County organization distributes more than 30,000 lbs. of food to needy residents

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, thousands of Central Florida residents have lost their jobs.

Many organizations have seen a sharp increase in the number of families needing help.

WATCH: Second Harvest says food insecurity at “all-time high” across Central Florida

“Food insecurity has always been an issue in Central Florida, and around the nation, COVID has just made everything worse”, said Dan Ryan, Director of Programs for the Christan Sharing Center.

For some, they have had to choose between paying their rent or buying food.

Denise Cross of Apopka says she is doing all she can to help her daughter.

READ: President Trump to host first rally since his COVID-19 diagnosis in Central Florida on Monday

“She is three months behind on her rent right now, so we are trying to help her out as much as we can with picking up food for her,” Cross said.

At the Christan Sharing Center food distribution event in Altamonte Springs on Friday, families received a box of household items and six bags of food.

Getting all set up for our food drop at Annunciation Catholic Church today. We will start disturbing food at 12pm and...

Posted by The Sharing Center on Friday, October 9, 2020

Volunteers spent the afternoon loading up the trunks and back seats of vehicles.

This is the fourth food distribution this year by the center, and nearly a thousand families have received help.

“We were up almost 30% of families this year even before COVID,” Ryan said.

He says the food distributed will last only two weeks and more donations are needed to keep up with the demand.

For more information on how you can help, click here.

Matt Reeser

Matt Reeser, WFTV.com

Matt Reeser joined WFTV in 1998 as a news photographer and has worked for television stations in Kentucky and West Virginia.

Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.

0